Friday, September 01, 2006

World Trade Center was directed by Oliver Stone. I am not a fan of Mr. Stone, but I believe he got it right this time. Considering that most of us watched the surreal events of September 11th, 2001 on our televisions and never got much closer than that, to see that day from the perspective of the emergency personnel who were called to the scene almost immediately was riveting. And terrifying. As that day progressed, the facts started seeping in - not an accident.. terrorism..chaos..and who would do this and why? To see several of these policemen rush into the second tower, unaware of what was literally happening directly above them is astounding and chilling. Nicolas Cage was wonderfully understated as one of the trapped men and Maggie Gyllenhaal was heart-wrenching as a pregnant wife and mother torn between grief and desperate hope. Considering the pedigree of its director, this film really surprised me. Instead of being political and preachy, it focused more on the strong brotherhood/sisterhood that exists between the brave souls who serve as firemen, policemen, and paramedics and the importance of family, loyalty, and taking nothing for granted. In the midst of unspeakable destruction and hopelessness, we still reach for one another in the dark. ****